HSC’s School of Public Health to host ‘Artificial Intelligence, Health Equity and the Future of Public Health’

AiArtificial intelligence is expected to bring significant changes to the future of the public health profession, education and workforce, with far-reaching applications in health services management and delivery. The powerful tools of AI hold significant promise related to health equity issues provided they also are used to unravel systemic inequities.

The School of Public Health at The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth will host an event tackling these and other issues. From 5:30 to 8 p.m. Nov. 30, “Artificial Intelligence, Health Equity and the Future of Public Health” will feature regionally and nationally regarded experts as part of HSC’s 2023 Health Care Workforce & Education series.

The free event is open to the public and will be held on HSC’s campus in the Medical Education and Training Building (1000 Montgomery St.), rooms 109-111, as well as virtually. Space is limited.

Dr. Shafik Dharamsi, dean of the School of Public Health will serve as moderator, hosting two panelists in the discussion: HSC alumnus Dr. Patrick K. Moonan (SPH Class of 2005), lead epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Dr. Anushree Vichare with the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University.

Moonan is an accomplished public health practitioner with more than 20 years of experience driving innovation in epidemiology and programmatic excellence in public health and preventive medicine. He has written more than 150 peer-reviewed publications, policy statements and guidelines. He also has extensive field-based outbreak investigation experience in numerous domestic and international settings, including ebola hemorrhagic fever, HIV, drug-resistant tuberculosis, SARS and SARS-CoV-2.

Vichare is an assistant professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Fitzhugh Mullan Institute for Health Workforce Equity in the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University. She holds a doctorate in health care policy and research, and is a primary care physician and an epidemiologist. Her research is focused on investigating the role of state and federal policies in affecting health care access, utilization and health outcomes among low-income populations, along with a focus on cancer care for vulnerable populations.

Her research examines the role of health care system-level factors and disparities related to health care access and quality of care among underserved populations. Several of her projects examine how the health and public health workforce’s composition, diversity and distribution impacts health inequities in access to care.

Topics that Dharamsi will explore with the panelists include:

  • Does AI have the potential to revolutionize public health by enhancing data analysis, prediction and disease management, offering public health educators and students new tools for teaching and learning?
  • How can public health practitioners and health administrators leverage AI to monitor diseases and improve public health interventions and solutions, ultimately leading to more efficient, effective and equitable health systems?

The panel presentation with a Q&A will follow a reception featuring light hors d’oeuvres, refreshments and networking.

Those interested in attending are asked to register here.

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